In this day and age when you buy something, it always comes with an extended warranty.
It usually costs extra but the intent is to give you peace of mind for the lifetime of that product.
Unfortunately, many of these extended warranties only last maybe another three, four, or five years.
What if you could buy a product that offered a 30-year guarantee?
Would that give you the peace of mind that you need?
When buying life insurance, if purchasing a 30-year term life insurance policy, it will do just that.
So many things can happen in our lives; new kids, new jobs, new homes, more stress. A lot of life situations can lead to drastic changes in our health.
Where you may be a fit triathlete today, who knows what can happen tomorrow?
Why not have the peace of mind of locking in a 30-year term life insurance policy when you’re at your best health?
I’m amazed when I talk to young individuals that only want to purchase a 10-year term life insurance policy, or sometimes a 20-year term life insurance policy. The most common reason I hear is they want to save money.
Well they might be saving money in the short term, they don’t realize what could happen in the long term. I’ve seen several instances of individuals that were what my friend would call “superfit” and easily qualify for a preferred plus rating, but circumstances beyond their control lead to a deterioration of health.
So if they want to renew the policy, when their other term policies are coming to an end, they’re now going to have to pay a much higher rate if they can get any insurance coverage at all. It seems to me the most common item overlooked when buying a 30-year term policy is that if your needs change where you don’t need it anymore, then you just stop paying it. A 30-year term policy does not mean that you are locked in for a 30-year contract. It just means that you have the right to be insured for that time period. So if your needs ever change, it’s as simple as not making the payment anymore.
30 year life insurance with big savings.
Before buying a 30-year term policy, it’s important to compare all the different options and all the different insurance carriers at once. If you’re going to buy a contract for that period of time, you want to make sure that you’re buying it with the highest rated carrier possible. One measure that you can use is A.M. Best’s rating scale to see how the insurance company compares to its peers. When comparing rates, if you can save $10 a month by purchasing an insurance carrier with an A- A.M. Best rating versus an A.M. Best A+ rating, it would behoove you to pay the extra money to go with the more highly rated carrier.
Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad
What if you have pre-existing conditions?
Another common fear that individuals have in purchasing a 30-year term life insurance policy is that if they have health conditions, will that prevent them from not getting approved? Absolutely not. Just because you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or any other high-risk condition, does not mean that you’ll get denied when applying for a 30-year term life insurance policy. What that does mean is that you may pay a higher rate.
When applying for the life insurance policy, make sure to be transparent with the underwriters in sharing everything that you can about your condition.
The more you share in the beginning will help your case when trying to get the approved coverage.
Can you get a 30-year term policy without a medical exam?
You sure can. This is sometimes called simplified issue or guaranteed acceptance life insurance policies. While you can qualify for these, it will most often be much cheaper to go the traditional underwriting route, but if you want to avoid the six- to eight-week process and you’ve never been denied for insurance, then getting a simplified issued policy will be as simple as answering a few questions and getting your policy delivered in approximately three business days.
There are a view advantages and disadvantages of these plans that you should be aware of before you purchase a plan without a medical exam. The first advantage is that anyone can purchase theses insurance policies, regardless of health or any preexisting conditions. Regardless of your health, you shouldn’t have to go without life insurance protection.
The next advantage is that you can get insurance protection much quicker than you would with a traditional insurance plan that requires you to take a medical exam before getting coverage. Because you don’t have to wait to take the medical exam or wait for the results, you can get insurance protection in a matter of days versus up to a month with a traditional insurance plan.
Just like every other type of plan, there are pitfalls that come along with these plans. One of them is the cost. A no exam plan is going to cost much more than a plan that requires the medical exam before you get approved for coverage. Because the insurance company doesn’t get as much information about your health, they are taking more of a risk by insuring you. They are going to offset that risk by charging you more every month. If you want to get the most affordable life insurance plan, you’ll want to choose a plan that requires a medical exam.
Another disadvantage to these plans is that there is a limit on how much coverage you can get. With a 30 year no medical exam, you’re going to be drastically limited on the amount of coverage you can get with your life insurance plan.
Quotes on a 30-year term life insurance.
A 30-year term life insurance policy does not cost as much as you think it would. Many people just assume that since it’s such a long term, that the costs are astronomical. It’s far from it.
Here are some examples of how much a 30-year term policy costs for both males and females.
$250,000 30 Term Policy Rates
$500,000 30 Term Policy Rates
$1,000,000 30 Term Policy Rates
SEX
AGE
30YR TERM POLICY
COMPANY 1
COMPANY 2
COMPANY 3
MALE
25
$1,000,000 FACE AMOUNT
BANNER LIFE $645
NORTH AMERICAN CO. $645
TRANSAMERICA $650
MALE
35
$1,000,000 FACE AMOUNT
BANNER LIFE $795
GENWORTH FINANCIAL $804
VOYA (FORMERLY ING) $808
MALE
45
$1,000,000 FACE AMOUNT
BANNER LIFE $1,885
GENWORTH FINANCIAL $1891
AMERICAN GENERAL $1,894
FEMALE
25
$1,000,000 FACE AMOUNT
AMERICAN GENERAL $514
NORTH AMERICAN CO. $515
SBLI $520
FEMALE
35
$1,000,000 FACE AMOUNT
SBLI $640
AMERICAN GENERAL $694
GENWORTH FINANCIAL $695
FEMALE
45
$1,000,000 FACE AMOUNT
SBLI $1,450
BANNER LIFE $1,455
AMERICAN GENERAL $1,456
As you can see, one of the biggest determining factors in calculating your monthly premiums is how much coverage you’re going to pay. It’s vital that you get enough life insurance coverage for your family.
Are you feeling down and out because of your single status? Don’t worry; it doesn’t have to be that way! This blog post is here to help turn things around by providing a list of the top 20 reasons why you’re single. Get ready for some laughs as we take an honest look at what might be keeping you from finding love. From considering yourself “too picky” to being too shy to put yourself out there, we address all the most common dating woes—plus offer up some invaluable advice on how to fix them! So if you want your happily ever after: read on!
1. You’re A Hermit
One user posted, “I’m basically a hermit.”
Another user responded saying, “No drama, and the remote is f-ing mine.”
One user also affirmed, “Same, plus people [are generally terrible], so looking for companionship is also like sticking hands in a needle stack looking for a piece of hair.”
2. People Are Too Dramatic
One Redditor also shared, “I have no energy for anything; people are draining and complicated.”
Another user replied, “Are you me? This is exactly how I feel. I get off work, and the last thing I want to do is have to deal with someone else.”
One Redditor added, “This is kinda one of the reasons I am not into any relationships with anyone. People are way too empty without any content, not interesting or serious about relationships, and many are also way too manipulative.”
3. You Have Nothing to Offer
“I don’t have anything women want that better guys can’t provide,” one user added to the thread.
Another Redditor replied, “I’ve thought about this a lot.”
One user commented, “Dude, statistically better guys are already taken by a subset of girls. There should be plenty left on your level field. That is the problem with the girls: 90% of girls are after 10% of “better guys.” but once reality settles in, they will go after you as well.”
“Objectively speaking, though, no woman on earth is going to go for a disabled guy like me. They’ll be with me despite, not inclusive of, my disability. This has been my lived experience, to use an overused phrase, lol. They have a subconscious feeling of superiority that comes out in small ways. It’s a long f-ing story that would take too much time in a comment, but trust me here,” another commenter added.
However, one user commented, “I was married to a fine man for 26 years before death parted us. He had a disability that he was born with. I never thought of him as less than or disabled. He was simply my love. My person. We loved each other well and truly and had a family. It can happen.”
4. Too Many Fish in the Sea
One user asked, “Have you actually seen the dating pool?! …There’s not enough chlorine in the world.”
Another user responded, “Lots of insects getting in the water…”
One commenter added, “Frogs in the filter.”
5. You Always Feel Odd
One user explained, “The whole dating thing makes me just feel odd. I’m tired of everybody and the red or green flags. The arguments and all, I don’t want to deal with it. I’d rather be single.”
The OP of the thread commented, “Been cheated on. It made me scared to date again, I dated again, and some other stuff happened, and let’s say I’m now socially awkward and can’t talk to women anymore. Although I find it tiring, I’m trying my best not to lose hope.”
Another commenter added, “The red flag feels like canceling culture but for dating—one wrong move and you’re done.”
6. Haven’t Met the Right One
One Redditor explained, “I honestly don’t know. A year and a half ago, I could have answered this quickly since I’d stay at home moping, just hoping someone would come calling. Well, of course, that wasn’t going to happen, so a year or so ago, I made myself get out, meet new people, befriend them, all the things you’re supposed to do.
“It didn’t work. People saw my kindness as a vessel to take advantage of and use me. I understood why doing nothing netted negative results. I don’t understand why doing the right thing also nets negative results. It makes no damn sense, it hurts, it’s made me cynical and depressed, and I don’t know what to do now.”
Another user commented, “Just keep being genuinely kind, start keeping boundaries, and it’ll weed out the bad people. You’ll meet someone eventually. Just take it slow.”
One commenter added, “Don’t close yourself off from other people. Also, be assertive and don’t let people take advantage of you. You don’t have to sacrifice your own needs to make people like you. Real friends are your friends because they enjoy your company, not because they gain materially from your presence. Yes, maybe someone you don’t let take advantage of you will not want anything to do with you, but that just means they were never going to be a true friend anyway.”
“I totally agree with what has been said here above; take a moment for yourself and establish some boundaries, some things you won’t accept being said or made, and get back in it. You might not find someone at first, but it’s fun and gets better,” concluded another person.
7. You Don’t Meet Enough People
One user posted, “I just don’t meet enough people now that I’m over 30.”
Another user stated, “Was married in my 30s and now divorced in my early 40s. It doesn’t get any better, friend. Everyone has a family.”
One user commented, “This exact thing. Married for 15 years, and the guys available are all weird to me. Better alone than with someone that doesn’t fit again.”
Another user answered, “I hope this will never be me. I’m already socially awkward due to my last relationship.”
8. You Just Don’t Like People
Another user shared, “I hate people.”
One user replied, “Bingo!”
One person confirmed, “So true. If you hope to receive unconditional love in your life, get a dog. Dogs are better than people anyhow.”
9. Scared to Date
One user shared, “Recovering from a divorce, I want a solid relationship; I’m also scared to re-enter the dating world.”
Another user replied, “Same here, dating looks scary in this landscape, and it’s okay to be happy on your own.”
“But I’m not happy on my own. I’m miserable. And to add insult to injury (and tangibility to metaphysical), I can’t afford … Anything as a result of only having one income. No house. No vacations. No enjoying the single life. Just a pointless, lonely ‘grind…’ More like a ‘skid.’ And it’s not like I just came out of the gate yesterday, either. I’m tired, boss,” the first user added.
10. You Like Your Freedom
One user shared, “I like the freedom.”
Another user responded, “I feel this so much.”
“Same. Enjoying independence!” exclaimed another Redditor.
11. You Don’t Think People Deserve You
A user shared, “Because 99.9% of the people in this world don’t deserve me.”
Another user replied, “Someone out there for you. Happy cake day, pal.”
12. Your Mom Said No
One Redditor posted, “My mom said no.”
Another user replied, “When I was a teen, my parents didn’t let me date. When I was 18, they still didn’t. But ofc I still dated secretly, and to this day, all of my past relationships were secret. They still believe I have never had a date.”
However, one commenter asked, “Did you try asking out anyone else?”
13. You Don’t Like the Dating World
One user explained, “I have no tolerance for what dating has become. I’m just old enough to remember when standing someone up on a date made you a piece of [crap]. Male or female. Now it’s called ghosting, and not only is it expected. We actually blame the person who got ghosted and says they must have done something wrong. I’m a Xennial who mostly sides with millennials over boomers. But you really f-ed up making ghosting socially acceptable.”
Another commenter replied, “I also don’t understand why people ghost. Even my friends, they ghost me. And it makes me think that I’m a boring person because I am always the one who gets ghosted. If my friends ghost me, what about a potential SO? And it gives me trauma to open up with anyone fully because it feels like they’re toying with me. So, maybe this is how my life is. No matter how hard I try, they just don’t care, and they always leave me in the end without even saying goodbye or telling me my faults.”
14. No One Seems Interested
One Redditor shared, “No one seems interested enough to get to know me. I don’t really have many opportunities to meet people. I work full-time 2nd shift, and I work every other weekend. I don’t have any friends either ’cause I didn’t keep in touch with any childhood friends.”
Another user added, “Didn’t keep in touch either. Recently I found an old friend on FB, added them, and they added me; I tagged them in a post, and then, for some reason, blocked me. [It’s terrible]. No clue why.”
One user answered, “Might I suggest, don’t tag people. It shows up on all their friends’ feeds. It might be what they deem inappropriate or something they don’t want to be attributed to. Instead, share a private message. Then, it gives you a chance to start a private conversion as well.”
The OP responded, “Yeah. I sent them a dm and got no response. And I posted a picture of my elementary school yearbook with all my classmates in it, and bam. Who knows why…”
15. Taking Care of Family
One Redditor posted, “I am 31, divorced, living with my 76-year-old dad. I take care of him; he has cancer and Parkinson’s. I don’t have much of a life right now. I am okay with that. I don’t know how much more time I have with my dad, and I am just focusing on taking care of him.
“I have been taking care of my ex-husband (multiple injuries at work and cancer), my ex-in-laws, my eldest brother, my mom, and one aunt. After this, I am taking care of myself. I’ll probably be single for a while after he passes too.”
Another user replied, “I understand. I’m looking forward to spending my energy on myself.”
16. Not Great at Talking To Women
“I’m not great at approaching women, and all the women I’d consider in the friend group I’m in have boyfriends. I get matches on dating apps, but nothing ever comes out of those; the conversation never escalates into anything interesting. I think I’m also a unique person that’s gonna have a more challenging time finding a match—I’m already a person with only a few friends. My personality is not going to be a match with everyone.”, exclaimed one user.
17. You Have Trust Issues
“B/c I have trust issues,” one user shared.
Another user replied, “Same…mental illness and baggage and being betrayed.”
One user agreed, “Same.”
18. Not Ready to Commit
One Redditor posted, “Few reasons: I married at 20. She left me 13 months later after five years into the relationship where she had family drama and moved in with me my senior year before high school, which complicated a lot of things since I was basically married at that point. She was emotionally abusive and left me for a coworker she told me not to worry about. A month after she left, she moved in with him in a new apartment, and once our divorce was final, she announced she was three months pregnant and remarried two days after what would’ve been our 2nd anniversary and not even a year after she left me.
“After my year-long [promiscuous] phase, I realized I didn’t want to be that way and once again attempted a relationship. For nearly a year, I was in on-again, off-again situations with someone I did fall for hard. In the end, she kept using me as a placeholder every time she and her abusive ex would break up. In the end, she just told me she was using me and felt guilty, and I was essentially a placeholder for her, hoping that her ex would get help. And I’ve still yet to recover from that.
“I’m stuck in this weird middle of wanting something intimate and to have someone I can call my person, and also wanting my isolation and freedom, which is a very confusing state of mind. Dating is hard and exhausting. No matter how many dates I go on with however many people, something just isn’t clicking for me or my dates. I haven’t found my person yet, and that’s okay. Maybe one day I will. I’ll continue trying, but I accept that being single is okay.”
Another user replied, “I really feel with you on this point. I keep missing the intimacy of a partner. However, I am not ready for the responsibility and commitment of a relationship. I am not a big fan of hookup culture; due to past relationships, I need to feel safe with my sexual partners.”
19. Not Loving Yourself
One Redditor commented, “I don’t love myself; therefore, I cannot love someone else.”
Another user added, “I hate that line. Of course, you can love someone else. Yeah, one should work on themselves, and if they don’t, their relationship may falter—but the idea you cannot love someone else is pure horsesh-t.”
Another person replied, “You can hate yourself But you love your friends, your family… You love gaming, art, music… And someone else can love you to death, even with your ‘flaw’ of hating yourself, and if they really love you, they’ll want nothing but the best for you, so they’ll try to cheer you up. Who came up with that line?”
One commenter said, “Emphasis on try. Abstract ideas like gaming, art, music, etc., are not the same as people. People get tired of trying to help someone who isn’t helping themselves. People will try and try, but eventually, people will distance themselves from you if you’re not making an effort/progress, and it’s not because they don’t love you, but it’s because 1. They most likely can’t stand to see you in a sh-tty state because they care so much, and 2. Nobody can make you love yourself; you literally have to find that within yourself. The best people can do is try and point you in the right direction or give you an idea. The rest is up to us.
“Sidenote: You guys do know there’s a difference between love and sympathy, right…? No shame in taking what you can get, but it’s important not to confuse the 2.”
One user added, “You can’t properly love someone else if you don’t love yourself. Then you end up putting a ton of pressure on your partner because all of your attention/needs are being put solely on them instead of yourself. It’s easy for your partner to literally become your whole world and reason for living which can lead to losing yourself in them when you don’t love yourself. The moral of the story is you’re asking for dependency issues getting into a relationship without loving yourself; trust me, it’s why I’m single now after 3 of the best years of my life…”
20. You’ve Never Been on a Date
One Redditor shared, “I’ve been single my whole life. Never been on a date. I’m not the prettiest, but I know I still have worth, and I know what I want to do in life and won’t settle.”
Another user replied, “Not so much difference. Sometimes, I want to know how it feels to go on a date, but no one has ever asked me out, or I have asked them because I am not attracted to my guy friends. It’s fine, though. Just keep on believing that one day it’ll be my time to experience it or not, considering I’m getting older and it’s just so hard to find someone I want to be with; even if I’ve found this person, it wouldn’t be sure that they wanted to be with me.”
Do you agree with the list above? Share your thoughts and leave a comment!
Source: Reddit.
These are 10 Things That Completely Destroyed The Love in a Relationship
There’s no question that relationships can be confusing, but here are some of the top things to avoid if you want to keep your relationship healthy!
10 Actors and Actresses People Refuse to Watch Ever Again
We all have a favorite actor or actress, but most of us have a least-favorite as well. Check out this list of actors and actresses people never want to see performing again!
Top 10 Worst Human Inventions of All Time
Some inventions are world-changing, and some of them, well, they change the world in the wrong ways. Here are some of the worst inventions Redditors could think of.
10 Famous Celebrities Who Look Like They Smell Terrible
We’ve all had moments of hygiene faux pas—but these celebrities just look like they don’t take care of themselves at all.
10 Terrible Fads People Are Glad Died Out
Every fad has its time in the limelight, but some of them come and go faster than others; and some just need to die out right away. Check out this list of fads of which people were happy to see the last.
Are you feeling down and out because of your single status? Don’t worry; it doesn’t have to be that way! This blog post is here to help turn things around by providing a list of the top 20 reasons why you’re single. Get ready for some laughs as we take an honest look at what might be keeping you from finding love. From considering yourself “too picky” to being too shy to put yourself out there, we address all the most common dating woes—plus offer up some invaluable advice on how to fix them! So if you want your happily ever after: read on!
1. You’re A Hermit
One user posted, “I’m basically a hermit.”
Another user responded saying, “No drama, and the remote is f-ing mine.”
One user also affirmed, “Same, plus people [are generally terrible], so looking for companionship is also like sticking hands in a needle stack looking for a piece of hair.”
2. People Are Too Dramatic
One Redditor also shared, “I have no energy for anything; people are draining and complicated.”
Another user replied, “Are you me? This is exactly how I feel. I get off work, and the last thing I want to do is have to deal with someone else.”
One Redditor added, “This is kinda one of the reasons I am not into any relationships with anyone. People are way too empty without any content, not interesting or serious about relationships, and many are also way too manipulative.”
3. You Have Nothing to Offer
“I don’t have anything women want that better guys can’t provide,” one user added to the thread.
Another Redditor replied, “I’ve thought about this a lot.”
One user commented, “Dude, statistically better guys are already taken by a subset of girls. There should be plenty left on your level field. That is the problem with the girls: 90% of girls are after 10% of “better guys.” but once reality settles in, they will go after you as well.”
“Objectively speaking, though, no woman on earth is going to go for a disabled guy like me. They’ll be with me despite, not inclusive of, my disability. This has been my lived experience, to use an overused phrase, lol. They have a subconscious feeling of superiority that comes out in small ways. It’s a long f-ing story that would take too much time in a comment, but trust me here,” another commenter added.
However, one user commented, “I was married to a fine man for 26 years before death parted us. He had a disability that he was born with. I never thought of him as less than or disabled. He was simply my love. My person. We loved each other well and truly and had a family. It can happen.”
4. Too Many Fish in the Sea
One user asked, “Have you actually seen the dating pool?! …There’s not enough chlorine in the world.”
Another user responded, “Lots of insects getting in the water…”
One commenter added, “Frogs in the filter.”
5. You Always Feel Odd
One user explained, “The whole dating thing makes me just feel odd. I’m tired of everybody and the red or green flags. The arguments and all, I don’t want to deal with it. I’d rather be single.”
The OP of the thread commented, “Been cheated on. It made me scared to date again, I dated again, and some other stuff happened, and let’s say I’m now socially awkward and can’t talk to women anymore. Although I find it tiring, I’m trying my best not to lose hope.”
Another commenter added, “The red flag feels like canceling culture but for dating—one wrong move and you’re done.”
6. Haven’t Met the Right One
One Redditor explained, “I honestly don’t know. A year and a half ago, I could have answered this quickly since I’d stay at home moping, just hoping someone would come calling. Well, of course, that wasn’t going to happen, so a year or so ago, I made myself get out, meet new people, befriend them, all the things you’re supposed to do.
“It didn’t work. People saw my kindness as a vessel to take advantage of and use me. I understood why doing nothing netted negative results. I don’t understand why doing the right thing also nets negative results. It makes no damn sense, it hurts, it’s made me cynical and depressed, and I don’t know what to do now.”
Another user commented, “Just keep being genuinely kind, start keeping boundaries, and it’ll weed out the bad people. You’ll meet someone eventually. Just take it slow.”
One commenter added, “Don’t close yourself off from other people. Also, be assertive and don’t let people take advantage of you. You don’t have to sacrifice your own needs to make people like you. Real friends are your friends because they enjoy your company, not because they gain materially from your presence. Yes, maybe someone you don’t let take advantage of you will not want anything to do with you, but that just means they were never going to be a true friend anyway.”
“I totally agree with what has been said here above; take a moment for yourself and establish some boundaries, some things you won’t accept being said or made, and get back in it. You might not find someone at first, but it’s fun and gets better,” concluded another person.
7. You Don’t Meet Enough People
One user posted, “I just don’t meet enough people now that I’m over 30.”
Another user stated, “Was married in my 30s and now divorced in my early 40s. It doesn’t get any better, friend. Everyone has a family.”
One user commented, “This exact thing. Married for 15 years, and the guys available are all weird to me. Better alone than with someone that doesn’t fit again.”
Another user answered, “I hope this will never be me. I’m already socially awkward due to my last relationship.”
8. You Just Don’t Like People
Another user shared, “I hate people.”
One user replied, “Bingo!”
One person confirmed, “So true. If you hope to receive unconditional love in your life, get a dog. Dogs are better than people anyhow.”
9. Scared to Date
One user shared, “Recovering from a divorce, I want a solid relationship; I’m also scared to re-enter the dating world.”
Another user replied, “Same here, dating looks scary in this landscape, and it’s okay to be happy on your own.”
“But I’m not happy on my own. I’m miserable. And to add insult to injury (and tangibility to metaphysical), I can’t afford … Anything as a result of only having one income. No house. No vacations. No enjoying the single life. Just a pointless, lonely ‘grind…’ More like a ‘skid.’ And it’s not like I just came out of the gate yesterday, either. I’m tired, boss,” the first user added.
10. You Like Your Freedom
One user shared, “I like the freedom.”
Another user responded, “I feel this so much.”
“Same. Enjoying independence!” exclaimed another Redditor.
11. You Don’t Think People Deserve You
A user shared, “Because 99.9% of the people in this world don’t deserve me.”
Another user replied, “Someone out there for you. Happy cake day, pal.”
12. Your Mom Said No
One Redditor posted, “My mom said no.”
Another user replied, “When I was a teen, my parents didn’t let me date. When I was 18, they still didn’t. But ofc I still dated secretly, and to this day, all of my past relationships were secret. They still believe I have never had a date.”
However, one commenter asked, “Did you try asking out anyone else?”
13. You Don’t Like the Dating World
One user explained, “I have no tolerance for what dating has become. I’m just old enough to remember when standing someone up on a date made you a piece of [crap]. Male or female. Now it’s called ghosting, and not only is it expected. We actually blame the person who got ghosted and says they must have done something wrong. I’m a Xennial who mostly sides with millennials over boomers. But you really f-ed up making ghosting socially acceptable.”
Another commenter replied, “I also don’t understand why people ghost. Even my friends, they ghost me. And it makes me think that I’m a boring person because I am always the one who gets ghosted. If my friends ghost me, what about a potential SO? And it gives me trauma to open up with anyone fully because it feels like they’re toying with me. So, maybe this is how my life is. No matter how hard I try, they just don’t care, and they always leave me in the end without even saying goodbye or telling me my faults.”
14. No One Seems Interested
One Redditor shared, “No one seems interested enough to get to know me. I don’t really have many opportunities to meet people. I work full-time 2nd shift, and I work every other weekend. I don’t have any friends either ’cause I didn’t keep in touch with any childhood friends.”
Another user added, “Didn’t keep in touch either. Recently I found an old friend on FB, added them, and they added me; I tagged them in a post, and then, for some reason, blocked me. [It’s terrible]. No clue why.”
One user answered, “Might I suggest, don’t tag people. It shows up on all their friends’ feeds. It might be what they deem inappropriate or something they don’t want to be attributed to. Instead, share a private message. Then, it gives you a chance to start a private conversion as well.”
The OP responded, “Yeah. I sent them a dm and got no response. And I posted a picture of my elementary school yearbook with all my classmates in it, and bam. Who knows why…”
15. Taking Care of Family
One Redditor posted, “I am 31, divorced, living with my 76-year-old dad. I take care of him; he has cancer and Parkinson’s. I don’t have much of a life right now. I am okay with that. I don’t know how much more time I have with my dad, and I am just focusing on taking care of him.
“I have been taking care of my ex-husband (multiple injuries at work and cancer), my ex-in-laws, my eldest brother, my mom, and one aunt. After this, I am taking care of myself. I’ll probably be single for a while after he passes too.”
Another user replied, “I understand. I’m looking forward to spending my energy on myself.”
16. Not Great at Talking To Women
“I’m not great at approaching women, and all the women I’d consider in the friend group I’m in have boyfriends. I get matches on dating apps, but nothing ever comes out of those; the conversation never escalates into anything interesting. I think I’m also a unique person that’s gonna have a more challenging time finding a match—I’m already a person with only a few friends. My personality is not going to be a match with everyone.”, exclaimed one user.
17. You Have Trust Issues
“B/c I have trust issues,” one user shared.
Another user replied, “Same…mental illness and baggage and being betrayed.”
One user agreed, “Same.”
18. Not Ready to Commit
One Redditor posted, “Few reasons: I married at 20. She left me 13 months later after five years into the relationship where she had family drama and moved in with me my senior year before high school, which complicated a lot of things since I was basically married at that point. She was emotionally abusive and left me for a coworker she told me not to worry about. A month after she left, she moved in with him in a new apartment, and once our divorce was final, she announced she was three months pregnant and remarried two days after what would’ve been our 2nd anniversary and not even a year after she left me.
“After my year-long [promiscuous] phase, I realized I didn’t want to be that way and once again attempted a relationship. For nearly a year, I was in on-again, off-again situations with someone I did fall for hard. In the end, she kept using me as a placeholder every time she and her abusive ex would break up. In the end, she just told me she was using me and felt guilty, and I was essentially a placeholder for her, hoping that her ex would get help. And I’ve still yet to recover from that.
“I’m stuck in this weird middle of wanting something intimate and to have someone I can call my person, and also wanting my isolation and freedom, which is a very confusing state of mind. Dating is hard and exhausting. No matter how many dates I go on with however many people, something just isn’t clicking for me or my dates. I haven’t found my person yet, and that’s okay. Maybe one day I will. I’ll continue trying, but I accept that being single is okay.”
Another user replied, “I really feel with you on this point. I keep missing the intimacy of a partner. However, I am not ready for the responsibility and commitment of a relationship. I am not a big fan of hookup culture; due to past relationships, I need to feel safe with my sexual partners.”
19. Not Loving Yourself
One Redditor commented, “I don’t love myself; therefore, I cannot love someone else.”
Another user added, “I hate that line. Of course, you can love someone else. Yeah, one should work on themselves, and if they don’t, their relationship may falter—but the idea you cannot love someone else is pure horsesh-t.”
Another person replied, “You can hate yourself But you love your friends, your family… You love gaming, art, music… And someone else can love you to death, even with your ‘flaw’ of hating yourself, and if they really love you, they’ll want nothing but the best for you, so they’ll try to cheer you up. Who came up with that line?”
One commenter said, “Emphasis on try. Abstract ideas like gaming, art, music, etc., are not the same as people. People get tired of trying to help someone who isn’t helping themselves. People will try and try, but eventually, people will distance themselves from you if you’re not making an effort/progress, and it’s not because they don’t love you, but it’s because 1. They most likely can’t stand to see you in a sh-tty state because they care so much, and 2. Nobody can make you love yourself; you literally have to find that within yourself. The best people can do is try and point you in the right direction or give you an idea. The rest is up to us.
“Sidenote: You guys do know there’s a difference between love and sympathy, right…? No shame in taking what you can get, but it’s important not to confuse the 2.”
One user added, “You can’t properly love someone else if you don’t love yourself. Then you end up putting a ton of pressure on your partner because all of your attention/needs are being put solely on them instead of yourself. It’s easy for your partner to literally become your whole world and reason for living which can lead to losing yourself in them when you don’t love yourself. The moral of the story is you’re asking for dependency issues getting into a relationship without loving yourself; trust me, it’s why I’m single now after 3 of the best years of my life…”
20. You’ve Never Been on a Date
One Redditor shared, “I’ve been single my whole life. Never been on a date. I’m not the prettiest, but I know I still have worth, and I know what I want to do in life and won’t settle.”
Another user replied, “Not so much difference. Sometimes, I want to know how it feels to go on a date, but no one has ever asked me out, or I have asked them because I am not attracted to my guy friends. It’s fine, though. Just keep on believing that one day it’ll be my time to experience it or not, considering I’m getting older and it’s just so hard to find someone I want to be with; even if I’ve found this person, it wouldn’t be sure that they wanted to be with me.”
Do you agree with the list above? Share your thoughts and leave a comment!
Source: Reddit.
These are 10 Things That Completely Destroyed The Love in a Relationship
There’s no question that relationships can be confusing, but here are some of the top things to avoid if you want to keep your relationship healthy!
10 Actors and Actresses People Refuse to Watch Ever Again
We all have a favorite actor or actress, but most of us have a least-favorite as well. Check out this list of actors and actresses people never want to see performing again!
Top 10 Worst Human Inventions of All Time
Some inventions are world-changing, and some of them, well, they change the world in the wrong ways. Here are some of the worst inventions Redditors could think of.
10 Famous Celebrities Who Look Like They Smell Terrible
We’ve all had moments of hygiene faux pas—but these celebrities just look like they don’t take care of themselves at all.
10 Terrible Fads People Are Glad Died Out
Every fad has its time in the limelight, but some of them come and go faster than others; and some just need to die out right away. Check out this list of fads of which people were happy to see the last.
The series on Roth Individual Retirement Arrangements (Roth IRAs) has covered a number of topics — what they are, how (and where) to open one, and which investments are best. Now, in the final part, we turn to some of your questions. Remember: I am not a financial adviser. I’m just a regular guy trying to gather information to help you. If you need more specific answers, please consult a CPA or an investment professional.
All of the questions below were submitted by Get Rich Slowly readers via comment or email. If your question isn’t here, please drop us a line so we can research an answer and add it to the list. If you are new to Roth IRAs, this article is not the place to begin. Start here, instead.
Types of Accounts and How Much You Can Contribute
Which is better: Investing in a Roth IRA with after-tax dollars or investing in a 401(k) with pre-tax dollars?
Also, does it make a difference if there is an employer match?
And if I already have a 401(k) through work, then why would I want to add to a Roth IRA?
There are a lot of variables here, so the answer for your situation may be different. But the traditional answer to this question is to…
Invest in the Following Order:
If your job offers a 401(k), contribute to that each year until you’ve reached the limit of the employer match. Never turn down free money!
If you still have money to invest, contribute to your Roth IRA.
If you still have money to invest, then max out your 401(k).
Once you’ve contributed all you can to these investments, then invest however you see fit in regular, taxable accounts.
Some people like to have all their accounts in one place. If you’re this sort of person, you may benefit from simply putting all your money into a 401(k) and not worrying about a Roth IRA.
However, there is another wrinkle to consider: When debating whether to invest in a 401(k) versus a Roth IRA, why not check with your employer to see if they offer a Roth 401(k) which allows you to invest with after-tax dollars (and withdraw tax-free in retirement)?
Also note that you can actually invest in both a 401(k) and a Roth IRA as long as you meet the requirements for both programs.
Is It Possible to Roll a 401(k) Into a Roth IRA?
It is possible, but you have to be careful. It is not a one-step process. Also, it’s difficult to do with an active 401(k) account. A mistake along the way could cost you a lot of money, so it’s a good idea to consult a financial adviser for help.
Here’s a discussion of the subject in the forum.
Can I have more than one Roth IRA? For example, can I have one at USAA and another at Vanguard?
To understand the answer, let’s step back and look at what an IRA is exactly: The “A” in IRA does not stand for “account.” If you look on the IRS website, you will see that the official definition of “IRA” is “Individual Retirement Arrangement.”
Every taxpayer can have only one Roth arrangement, but you can have multiple accounts as part of that arrangement. You can have as many Roth IRA accounts as you’d like.
Contribution Limits for Roth IRAs (and Traditional IRAs)
Contribution limits for 2015 and 2016:
Under 50 years of age: $5,500
Age 50 and over: $6,500
Note that your contribution limit applies to all of your IRA accounts (Roth and traditional) collectively; they don’t each get a $5,500 limit. In other words, you can contribute $100 each to 40 different Roth IRA accounts, but not $1,000 to each of them.
Who Can Invest and are There Limitations?
Can legal U.S. residents who are not citizens open an IRA?
Is it a good idea?
What if I don’t plan to be in the U.S. at retirement age?
Anyone with earned income in the U.S. can contribute to a Roth IRA — citizenship is not required. However, for greater flexibility, you may want to consider a traditional IRA or other investment accounts, depending on your goals.
Be sure to check with a tax professional to see which solution best fits your exact situation.
How does the IRS know that you contributed to a Roth IRA?
How does it know if you contributed more than you were allowed?
At the end of the year, the investment company submits Form 5498 to the IRS, which reports the amount that you invested. For example, it might show that, in 2015, you invested $5,000 in a Roth IRA. The IRS computers then match this form electronically to your tax return to check for discrepancies. If you are over the income limit, your return will be flagged.
What happens if I contribute too much to a Roth IRA?
If you contribute more than allowed, you are subject to a 6 percent excess-contribution penalty. However, you have until the annual contribution deadline (generally April 15th) to withdraw any overage from the account before the penalty is assessed.
What options are there if I earn too much to contribute to a Roth IRA?
Your Contribution May Be Affected by Your Modified AGI
These tables show whether your contribution to a Roth IRA is affected by the amount of your modified AGI as computed for Roth IRA purposes. They show how to determine the amount of Roth IRA contributions that you can make for …
If you make too much to contribute to a Roth IRA, be sure you’re maxing out your 401(k), if you have one. You can also contribute to a traditional IRA.
Both of these are excellent options. But note that, if you have a 401(k) at work, your contributions to a traditional IRA may not be tax deductible. Another option for high-income individuals to consider is to contribute to an annuity.
Here are two more forum discussions about Backdoor Roth and 401(k) rollover strategies and What to do when Roth IRA isn’t an option.
My wife is a stay-at-home mom and doesn’t have any earned income. Does this mean she cannot have a Roth IRA?
To every rule, there is an exception. If you are married and filing a joint return, then both spouses can max out IRAs from a single income (so long as the other Roth IRA requirements are met).
I’m self-employed and I make more than the maximum allowable for a Roth IRA. Does a SEP-IRA make sense?
A SEP-IRA may make sense, but that will depend on your individual circumstances. Basically, self-employed people can contribute roughly 20 percent of their first $200,000 of pre-tax earnings to a SEP-IRA. However, they must contribute the same percentage for all employees. If you are the only employee, or if you don’t mind giving all employees the same retirement benefits, then this may be a good choice. This is another case in which you should consult a financial adviser.
Types of Roth IRA Investments
I want to open a Roth IRA, but I’m confused by the mutual funds offered by different companies.
For example, ING Direct (now Capital One 360) offers six funds, and another bank offers only five. What’s the difference?
Which should I choose?
Only you can answer that question. Here’s how I would approach this problem: I would first locate the investment I want to purchase. Is it an individual stock? Is it real estate? Or is it, as I encourage, an index fund?
Once you’ve decided on an investment, then find a company that will let you buy the investment from within a Roth IRA at the lowest cost. This shouldn’t take too much effort. If, like me, you decide you like Vanguard’s mutual funds, then open an account directly with Vanguard.
Can I really use my Roth IRA to buy a house?
Sort of. There’s an animal called a self-directed IRA which allows you to invest in real estate. However, you cannot invest in anything directly related to you, like your company or your primary residence. This is definitely a topic you should take up with a tax professional if you have a strong interest in doing something like this.
In many cases, complex Roth IRA questions are best answered by a qualified financial professional. Each person’s situation is different. It is difficult to give one-size-fits-all advice in the context of this blog. Use the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors to find an independent, fee-only adviser.
I opened a Roth IRA at a local bank, but I noticed that I’m only getting a 1.98% return. This seems unusually low. Should I withdraw my money and move it to Vanguard, Fidelity, or T. Rowe Price?
Your money is probably in a savings account or certificate of deposit. Your bank may offer additional financial services — check with them to see where else you can put the money. Barring that, yes, absolutely move the money to a different location. You may have to pay a transfer fee, but it’s worth it.
As Mandy writes in the forums, “Traditionally, banks are one of the worst places to invest because they typically offer high-load/high-fee or very conservative investments and charge higher service fees than most other brokerages. Banks are for banking, not investing.”
(See Which investments are best for a Roth IRA? for ideas on where to put the money.)
Withdrawing From a Roth IRA
Can I really withdraw money from my Roth IRA without penalty?
That depends on what you would consider a penalty. Here is a direct quote from the IRS website:
“You can take distributions from your IRA (including your SEP-IRA or SIMPLE-IRA) at any time. There is no need to show a hardship to take a distribution. However, your distribution will be includible in your taxable income and it may be subject to a 10% additional tax if you’re under age 59 1/2. The additional tax is 25% if you take a distribution from your SIMPLE-IRA in the first 2 years you participate in the SIMPLE IRA plan. There is no exception to the 10% additional tax specifically for hardships. See chart of exceptions to the 10% additional tax.”
Bill wrote the other day looking for my opinion on Sharebuilder. Sharebuilder is an online discount brokerage that encourages automatic scheduled purchases of stocks and exchange-traded funds. In plain English, the company makes it easy to start investing. Here’s what Bill had to say:
I was wondering what you thought about Sharebuilder. I am considering signing up for an Individual Retirement Account. I am not sure if Sharebuilder is a good place to start, or if I should try to get out of debt first (I have about $30,000 left and am paying it off). I have a 401K through my employer, so I have some retirement savings. I just don’t think I have enough saved for my current age, so I am looking to offset the 401K with some other investments. Anyway, do you like Sharebuilder?
I’ve been using Sharebuilder for almost two year now. I like it, but it’s not a good choice for everyone.
What Does It Cost?
Sharebuilder offers an easy, convenient way to begin investing, and is relatively inexpensive, but it is not free. It costs $4 to make a scheduled transaction. It costs $16 to make a market order (a trade that executes immediately).
While these fees are lower than those at most full-service brokers, they’re still fees. Many people would argue — and I can’t say they’re wrong — that if you want to start a Roth IRA and can afford it, you should save $1,000 or $3,000 (or whatever the minimum is) to open a no-fee account at Vanguard. Truth be told, I will eventually move my Roth IRA to Vanguard, though that’s still months (if not years) away.
Related >> What is a Roth IRA?
Getting in the Habit
Why did I choose Sharebuilder if I’m not 100% sold on them? Because they made it easy to get started.
I wanted to put $100/month into an IRA, but I didn’t have money to make a large initial investment. Sharebuilder is designed precisely for cases like mine. I created a recurring automated transaction, and I was “paying myself first” in no time. But I was paying 4% to do this — $4 for every $100 investment — a number that would make some people faint.
Eventually I cancelled my monthly program. I now make one-time lump investments of $1,000 each, which means the $4 fee doesn’t consume as much of my money. In reality, the $4 fee never bothered me. It was a small price to develop the investment habit.
Another Option
Here’s my current recommendation for someone who wishes to save for retirement, but who can only afford small amounts to start:
Open a high-yield savings account at Capital One 360 (or your favorite equivalent).
Schedule a monthly transfer to your new account. $100 is a good amount, but you might choose $25 or $250. Become accustomed to making regular investments while earning interest on the money and paying no fees.
In the meantime, research possible locations for your IRA. As I mentioned before, Vanguard is an excellent choice, though you might consider Fidelity or T. Rowe Price.
When you’ve saved enough for the minimum investment, transfer the money from ING Direct to Vanguard (or whichever place you choose).
This is a terrific way to start investing.
Related >> Which High-Yield Online Savings Account is Best?
Do What Works for You
Zecco (Now TradeKing) is another alternative to Sharebuilder. I’m not sure what automatic investment options TradeKing provides, but they do offer $0 trades. If I were beginning right now, I’d take a look at them.
Obviously, there are other choices out there. Your best bet is to do research to find the one that is right for you. If you don’t like the idea of paying investment fees, then save to open a Vanguard account. If you feel it’s important to just get started, consider Sharebuilder.
Final Notes
Bill is to be commended for striving to become debt-free. I think it’s okay to do a little retirement investing as he pursues this goal. (That’s what I did.) But remember: repaying debt is the best investment. Finally, before starting an IRA, be sure to take full advantage of the employer match on your 401k. Always take the free money!
53 percent feel that being debt-free is an attainable goal in today’s economy
Pay off your credit cards
The best thing you can do for yourself and your debt is to pay it off and never tango with credit card companies again. There is just no substitute or excuse for taking up the financial reins of your own life. This will give you the greatest power, as well as let you help others later who have fallen into the trap.
Send back any credit card offers or additional debt-inducing advertisements
You know all those little ads that are mailed with your bill? Stuff them in your bill’s return envelope to send them back. Let the credit card companies be responsible for their own paper waste and noise. Get calls on the phone from credit card companies? I like to put them on hold and leave them there for an indefinite amount of time.
Destroy all your credit cards — emergencies call for cash, not plastic
Credit cards are not a necessary part of life. Although credit cards — when used wisely — can render a user cash-back and other reward benefits, you don’t need to have a credit card in case of an emergency. You need to have $1,000 cash in a high-interest online savings account like ING Direct that issues debit cards so you can have the money in a snap.
If you choose to keep a credit card, don’t be a debt recidivist
Make it a goal to always keep your credit utilization under 30% — this will help your credit score. Better still for life in general, avoid carrying any credit card debt month-to-month. Unless you are charging more than you can afford or are paying off a big-ticket item, there’s not really a reason to. And if you are using credit to finance larger purchases, be very aware of when any zero percent APR window ends. Even if you only have a small balance left, the fine print allows the credit card companies to charge you interest on the full balance and from the day you made the purchase.
Stop the credit card companies from contacting you
If you go to the National Do-Not-Call Registry, you can register so you won’t get credit card offer calls. To stop your mailbox from being filled up with offers, contact OptOutPrescreen.com.
File a complaint against the credit card companies
Consumer Reports advises consumers to register a complaint with your state attorney general. (Contact information is available at The National Association of Attorneys General.) Also lodge a complaint with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which you can reach by phone at 800-613-6743. If the OCC doesn’t regulate the card issuer, it will help you find the agency that does.
Realize revolving balances support credit card corporations and their causes
From 1990 to 2004, almost $8 million from credit card companies was contributed to both political parties. Aside from achieving personal relief and control over your financial life, another value-based and entirely beneficial reason to pay off your credit cards is to stop giving funding to organizations who will not use your money to lobby for laws on your behalf. In a sense, when you use credit cards, think of yourself as inadvertently giving money to a cause you might (or more likely might not) support.
Remember, penalty and non-penalty fees (late fees, interest rates) have made up a whopping one-third of total revenue for credit card companies.
Support government regulation for credit card companies
While there is still no federal law that caps credit card interest rates, the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act of 2009 helped to tip the balance more in favor of the consumer. Changes include a 45-day notice before changing your interest rate and greater disclosure about how long it will take you to pay off a balance if you only make the minimum payments.
Vote in the next election
I’ll give you the same simple speech my father used to give me when I was younger and disconnected to the process: “Voting is not a choice; it is your civic duty.” If you dislike laws and regulations, get involved in the political process.
Author Katrina Ramser is a freelance writer who contributes to various websites, newspapers and magazines.
Voya Financial, Inc. is a combination of insurance, retirement, and investment product and services conglomerate. The company serves the financial needs of approximately 13 million customers – both business and consumer – throughout the U.S.
The vision of Voya is to become America’s Retirement Company – and it is well on its way, as the firm helps its customers to meet the challenges of saving for retirement through its more than 7,000 dedicated employees.
Need help finding a different form of insurance coverage, such as burial insurance plans, auto insurance coverage or health insurance, we can help find the best company to work with according to your needs!
The principal businesses of Voya include Insurance Solutions, Investment Management, and Retirement Solutions. Each component has a very specific focus. These are broken out as follows:
Insurance Solutions: The Insurance Solutions component of Voya is considered to be a top-tier provider of term policies, as well as a top-ten provider of medical stop-loss insurance coverage in the United States. On the individual life insurance side, Voya currently has more than $2 billion in gross premium via its term, universal, and variable life insurance products. This component of the business also consists of Employee Benefits whereby Voya currently serves nearly 4.5 million individuals.
Investment Management: On the investment management side, Voya holds in excess of $207 billion in assets under management for both external and affiliated institutions and for individual investors. The company has a focus on investment solutions, with a clear emphasis on fixed income, equities, and multi-asset income strategies.
Retirement Solutions: Retirement Solutions is a leading provider of retirement products and services in the United States. This section of Voya’s business has roughly $375 billion in assets under management and administration and it serves approximately 47,000 institutional clients, and more than 5 million individual retirement plan investors. In addition, more than 2,300 financial advisors are also served in this area, as well as more than 417,000 retail fixed annuity product customers.
History of Voya Life Insurance Company
In the scope of financial services companies, Voya is quite new. It actually made its debut in April 2014 – and completed its overall re-branding in September. The company’s name originated as an abstract name that was coined from the word “voyage,” and it reflects both momentum and optimism.
The company actually came from the former ING US – and after two years of transforming the strategy, the financial profile, and the culture of the company, ING began to trade as a public company on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol VOYA in 2014.
While it has only a short history, Voya has strived to impress. In 2014, the company was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute, as well as a top-five retirement plan provider based on number of plans, participants, and assets. In addition, the company is also a top-tier independent broker dealer network in the U.S. a top-tier provider of life insurance, and a top-10 medical stop-loss coverage provider in the United States.
Products Offered By Voya
Voya offers a wide range of insurance and financial products. For individuals, the choices include life insurance, annuities, IRAs, workplace retirement plans, employee benefits, and college savings options.
On the life insurance side, options include the following:
Term Life – Term life is the most basic of all coverage options. This is because term provides just pure death benefit protection only, with no cash value or investment build up. Term life is also typically the most economical form of life insurance protection, especially for those that are needing a larger death benefit amount such as a 1 million dollar life insurance policy. This can especially be the case when the applicant for coverage is young and in good health at the time of application. If you are not in the best of health and feel a no exam life insurance policy would be best for you, we can help find the carrier to best suit your needs. Term coverage is sold for a set period of time – typically a certain number of years. Voya offers several term life options, including the Voya TermSmart, and the Voya ROP (Return of Premium) Endowment Term.
Universal Life – Universal policies are a type of permanent life insurance protection. This means that the policy is not sold for a set period of time but rather, it will last for the entirety of the insured’s life – provided that the premium is paid. Universal coverage offers both a death benefit and a cash value. Cash value growth is tax deferred, meaning that the policy holder does not have to pay any income tax on the cash while it accumulates inside of the policy. Universal policies are also quite flexible in that the policy holder is allowed to adjust the frequency of premium payments in order to meet his or her changing needs. The death benefit of the policy can also be adjusted up or down, within certain guidelines, as well.
Indexed Universal Life – Indexed universal policies provide death benefit protection, as well as the ability to build funds inside of the policy based upon increases in underlying market indexes. Even if the indexes perform poorly, however, the policy holder is safe based on the policy’s guaranteed minimum interest rate. Like other types of permanent coverage, the funds that are inside of the policy are allowed to grow tax deferred. For indexed universal life insurance, Voya offers the Voya Indexed Universal Life – Global Choice, and the Voya Indexed Universal Life – Guaranteed Death Benefit products.
Variable Universal Life – Variable universal coverage provides death benefit protection and the flexibility of universal life insurance plans. Policy holders also have the ability to build funds in their policy using variable investment options from the market. Funds in these policies can also grow on a tax deferred basis. Voya offers the Voya Variable Universal Life – CV, and the Voya Variable Universal Life – DB plans in the area of variable universal life insurance.
Survivorship Life – A survivorship policy insures the lives of two people – and the death benefit is paid out when the second person passes away. These policies are oftentimes used for estate planning strategies. They can be especially beneficial as the premium on a survivorship policy is generally less costly than that of two separate policies. Voya offers the Strategic Accumulator Survivorship Universal Life policy, as well as the Voya Survivorship Variable Universal Life-CV plan.
Financial Strength Ratings
Voya is a strong company, and it has been provided with very good ratings from the ratings agencies. These marks are as follows:
A.M. Best
Fitch Ratings
Moody’s Investor Services
Standard & Poor’s
A
A-
A3
A-
Advantages and Disadvantages
Although not at the very top of the list, Voya is considered to be an extremely strong contender in the life insurance arena. The company has very strong ratings in terms of financial ability for paying out claims, and it offers a nice array of different products for meeting a diverse mix of client needs.
As with some of the other life insurers, however, if an applicant has any type of adverse health condition, he or she may be at an impasse in terms of how to proceed through the “traditional” application channels – especially if applying directly through the company. In this regard, it is best to instead work with an agency or company that specializes in higher risk insurance cases.
Obtaining Life Insurance Quotes
Any time you are seeking coverage, it is always best to obtain quotes from several different insurance carriers. This will allow you to review various policies, as well as premium prices, and to truly see what types of plans are available to you.
Just as with other types of important purchases, you wouldn’t typically opt for the first and only item that you see. So, with life insurance, it is important to keep in mind that this is in most cases going to be the financial security that your loved ones will be counting on to pay their living expenses, erase large debts, or eliminate substantial tax obligations. With that in mind, you will want to ensure that you are obtaining the very best coverage that you can.
When you’re ready to begin shopping for policies, our recommended partner, Root Financial, can help. They work with the top life insurance carriers in the nation today, and can get you all of the information that you need in order to make a well informed decision. They can also assist you with decisions such as:
What type of coverage to purchase – term, whole life, or universal
Determining how much benefit will be enough
Finding the best carrier that will meet your protection needs, as well as your premium budget
In addition, should you have any type of adverse health condition, Root financial specializes in helping people find the carriers that are more apt to cover various applicants. So whether you are a smoker, a diabetic or just in good health, this can save you countless hours of time and frustration throughout the application process. Use the form on this page to get started with your own set of quotes.
My wife has always maintained a sizable savings account, but having extra cash is new to me. Until recently, I had always lived paycheck-to-paycheck, often treading close to a zero dollar balance in my checkbook for months at a time. Now, though, I’ve not only established an emergency account, but set up a couple of targeted accounts as well. (One is for vacations, and the other is for a new car.)
My method works for me, but others have different approaches. In her book Debt-Proof Living, author Mary Hunt suggests a sort of “emergency fund plus“. Often when people struggle with money, she says, it’s not the predictable monthly bills that are the problem. People cannot cope with the unexpected things — not just emergencies (like a severe illness), but irregular expenses like auto maintenance, wedding and birthday gifts, or a new pair of shoes.
To deal with all of life’s surprises, Hunt recommends a Freedom Account. Here’s how it works:
Determine your irregular, unexpected, and intermittent expenses. Because the past provides a good indication of the future, look at your records for the past year or two. Make a list of your expenses that don’t occur on a monthly basis. Divide them into broad categories and calculate our approximate monthly spending on each.
Open a second checking account. Most of the tactics we discuss at Get Rich Slowly involve multiple savings accounts. Hunt advocates opening a second checking account to act as a Freedom Account. She further warns that “under no circumstances should you accept overdraft protection, ATM privileges, or a debit card for your Freedom Account”. This account is not for daily use.
Authorize an automatic deposit. When you open your Freedom Account, instruct the bank to schedule an automatic deposit from an existing account based on the average monthly total of your irregular expenses. Pick a day of the month that works based on your cash flow. For me it’s best to have automatic transactions occur soon after I get paid.
Start a logbook. “As far as the bank is concerned, you have a second checking account,” Hunt writes. “But you are going to treat your new Freedom Account as a collection of sub-accounts.” To do this, take the list of irregular expenses you created earlier and start a page for each category. For example, you might have pages for clothing, vacation, property taxes, and auto maintenance. Each month when the automatic deposit is made into your Freedom Account, you will divide that among the sub-accounts in your logbook. For example, if you transfer $200/month to your Freedom Account, you might manually add $25 to vacation, $25 to clothing, $100 to property taxes, and $50 to auto maintenance.
Make a deposit every month. “This is going to feel weird in the beginning,” Hunt says. She’s right. It felt strange to me when I began to keep sub-accounts at my credit union, but now it’s second nature. I like having my money divided based on its intended use. With your Freedom Account, you’ll be transferring from your primary checking account to a secondary checking account on a specific date each month. Then you’ll further divide your money by hand in your logbook. It sounds like a lot of work, but it’s really not.
Hunt notes that Freedom Accounts can be a great marital aid. By giving each partner a Freedom Account, both spouses can have their own pool of money to budget independently.
This sounds like a viable alternative to a standard emergency fund. I don’t plan to implement a Freedom Account for myself — I like my current system — but it’s something I would have considered during the three years I was working to pay off my debt.
Addendum: Several readers have noted that Hunt’s method is a little outdated. A modern way to do this would be to open an account at ING Direct. Because ING Direct allows you to create multiple accounts at no cost, you can have one for each of category.
One of my favorite saving techniques is the use of targeted accounts. If I want to save for something big — like a Mini Cooper, for example — I’ll open a new savings account specifically for this purpose. I first learned about this method from Robert Pagliarini’s The Six-Day Financial Makeover:
Traditionally, most people invested for various vague goals and lumped all of their savings together in a single investment account. That’s pretty boring. It’s not very inspiring or effective. Purpose-Driven Investing satisfies our need for a purpose and our need for instant gratification by thinking of each of our goals as a separate “basket”. Each of our baskets represents a single goal with a clear purpose that we can see and grow.
What does this mean in the real world? It means that we have a single investment account for every goal. For example, if one of your goals is to take the family on a European vacation, create a separate savings account called “Family European Vacation Fund”. This account or basket contains all of your savings toward that one goal. Every penny in the account is for the European vacation — not for retirement, a new car, your emergency fund, your kids’ college tuition, or any other goal.
I like this idea, and have been using it ever since I saved for my Nintendo Wii.
Until recently, I kept my targeted savings accounts at the local credit union where they earned me a paltry 0.35%. For the past few months, Get Rich Slowly readers have been urging me to move all of my savings to ING Direct (note: ING Direct is now Capital One 360, which is where I keep my emergency fund. “It’s easy,” my readers tell me. “You can open multiple accounts, give them any name you want, and track them all from the same screen. You can even open a checking account!”
Last month, I finally overcame inertia to try this myself. My readers were right: opening multiple accounts at ING Direct is easy.
Step One: Choose an Account
First, I logged into my ING Direct account summary page. From there, I clicked the big “Open an Account” button.
I was directed to a page listing a variety of available accounts, including business and retirement accounts. Because I wanted to open another savings account, that’s the option I selected.
On the next screen, I was asked to further refine the account type:
Step Two: Fund the Account
Next came the good part: I selected how much I wanted to put into the account and where those funds would come from. I was also able to give the new account a nickname. Since I was opening these extra accounts specifically for targeted saving, it makes sense to name each one based on my goal.
Finally, I had to agree to the terms and conditions of the account.
Step Three: Wait
Then the waiting began. Because ING Direct had to “pull” the money from my credit union, it took several days for the cash to transfer to my accounts. At first they appeared empty:
After the money had transferred, it was easy for me to track all of my savings goals in one place.
Next on my list? Exploring ING Direct’s certificates of deposit and business accounts.
A Useful Tool
Thank you to all of the readers who suggested this. I don’t know why I took so long to try it. I’m sure this technique isn’t limited to ING Direct. I was doing something similar at my local credit union (though without the pretty interface, account nicknames, or high interest rates), so I suspect that other online banks offer similar functionality.
Not everyone needs multiple accounts to save for goals. My wife, for example, is perfectly content with a single gigantic savings account for everything. But for me, being able to separate funds like this is awesome. It keeps me motivated to save. And because it doesn’t cost me a penny, I’m happy to do it.
In the past, we’ve discussed the best online high-yield savings account, covered the basics of certificates of deposit, and even explored the beauty of Roth IRAs. But we’ve never talked about checking accounts.
Many people believe checking accounts are the dinosaurs of the banking world. They’re not extinct yet. In the past few weeks, I’ve received two questions about them:
“Where can I get the best rate on a checking account?”
“How much should I keep in a checking account?”
Under certain circumstances a checking account can offer a better return than a savings account! In fact, there are a couple of ways to do it.
Online Checking Accounts
Though they’re not as common as online savings accounts, I was able to find a few high-yield online checking accounts.
Mutual of Omaha Bank, for example, offers a high-yield checking account that is much higher than the average national savings account interest rate. Currently, the Mutual of Omaha Bank online advantage checking yields 0.50% per year.
This account comes with free Bill Pay and free ATM access to 22,000 ATMs.
Rewards Checking Accounts
Believe it or not, there’s a way to earn even higher rates of return with a checking account. Many small community banks and credit unions around the United States offer a special “rewards” checking account, a product administered by a company called Kasasa.
Different banks have different names for this product.
Obviously, these rates are fantastic. There aren’t many places you can earn a guaranteed 6% return on your money right now. Unfortunately, there are a few catches. These rewards checking accounts usually come with some combination of the following limitations:
You must receive your monthly statement electronically — not via snail mail.
You must log into your account at least once per month.
You must make a certain number (generally around 12) debit card purchases. (ATM withdrawals do not count toward this number.)
You must make at least one electronic transaction each month. These include automatic payments to your utilities, for example, or a direct deposit.
The rate only applies to the first $30,000 (or so) in your account. (The cap at some banks is $10,000; at others, it’s $100,000.) The portion in your account above the cap only earns a tiny return.
If you use your debit card often, a rewards checking account makes a lot of sense. If you’re clever (and have a lot of money), you could actually use both types of accounts I’ve described. Put your first $25,000 or so into the local credit union to earn five or six percent, and then put the rest into an online checking account at three percent. (On the other hand, if you have that much cash, you’re probably doing something far more clever with it than parking it in rewards checking accounts!)
How Much Should You Keep in Checking?
This brings us, at last, to the second question about checking accounts. Chris wrote to seek advice on how much to keep on hand:
What is a good rule of thumb for a minimal balance in one’s checking account? I already have a healthy emergency savings account, so my question is, how low should I go? I carry no revolving debt, and I am currently paying off installment debt (student loans), so I could get a guaranteed return on any extra money I put towards debt taken from my no-interest brick-and-mortal checking account.
The answer to this question depends entirely on the rates of return for the savings and the checking accounts, and how the accounts are used.
Though I have an Electric Orange checking account at ING, I don’t actually use it for anything yet. I haven’t fit it into my financial workflow. Instead, I use a normal no-interest checking account at my local credit union. Every month, I transfer a fixed amount there to pay the expected bills. The rest of my money earns interest in savings.
If I were to get my act together, I could transfer some money to Advantis to test their rewards checking account. I’m hesitant to put my entire emergency fund there because I don’t know if I’ll meet the “12 transactions a month” clause to earn the 5% interest. But if I transfered a small amount there and tested it for a couple months, I’d know for certain.
Now I’d like to hear from you folks. What sort of checking account do you use? Does it earn interest? How much? Have you tried one of these rewards checking accounts? How did you like it? Have you tried an online savings account? Or have you given up checking account altogether?